Sri Lanka Cricket announced their fifth Australian coach on Thursday when the 44-year-old Trevor Bayliss signed a two year contract. Dav Whatmore, Bruce Yardley, John Dyson and Tom Moody were all different kinds of coaches. Whatmore was a hardworking coach while Dyson depended a lot on computer inputs with Moody believing in developing the mental side of players. What kind of cricket coach is Trevor Bayliss?

‘The Island'

What can Sri Lanka expect from Trevor Bayliss?

"I guess I am very much a practical kind of coach. Working one on one with players, brining in adjustments where it has to be brought in without damaging ingenuity and stuff like that. That's what I have been doing. Coaching has changed over the years through the advancement of technology, but the basics of the sport never change. Yes we can make use of the computer, but computer is only a small part of cricket. It's there if the players want to use it. It can be a help, but at the end, players should be able to catch, throw and bat," Bayliss told ‘The Island'.

Bayliss is one of the successful cricket coaches in Australia having guided New South Wales for a couple of State cricket titles during his tenure.

"I actually have two more years of my contract. New South Wales have been good enough to let me go to take over the Sri Lankan position. I am very excited to coach an international side, especially a team like Sri Lanka, one of the best sides in the world. Tom Moody and Trevor Penny have done a great work with the team and my job is to continue that," he added.

Bayliss has advantage of working with high profile cricketers as players like Glen McGrath, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Simon Katich and a host of others play domestic cricket for New South Wales, whom Bayliss coached.

"It was great to work with all those leading players in the world. With international commitment, most of those players' presence at the state team was limited, but when they did turn out they gave their 100 percent. We won a Sheffield Shield competition and two one day competitions in the last couple of seasons and my time with NSW has been great."

Like all modern coaches, Bayliss too has to leave his family back at home. And that for him was a hard decision to make.

"First I'll be coming down here by myself, probably early August. My wife Julie and kids Adam (11) and Emma (09) will be studying back in Australia. Cricket schedules are hectic these days and when there's enough spare time, they'll be joining me."

The reason for both Tom Moody and Trevor Penny to leave Sri Lanka was their family commitments. Although SLC respected Moody's decision, they did have some difficulties after Moody didn't give them much notice. In order to avoid a repetition, SLC has got a new clause in the coach's contract which says that both parties need to give three months notice before terminating the contract.

He also said that Thursday was one of the happiest days in his life as he was offered the Sri Lankan job hours after the board interviewed him. "This is my first visit to Sri Lanka. But it's a memorable trip for me and certainly one of the happiest days of my life.

I am passionate about coaching and to be involved with a very good team is really pleasing," he said.

Bayliss of course doesn't know much about the Sri Lankan players unlike someone like Tom Moody, who had played against most Sri Lankan players and had coached Chaminda Vaas at Worcestershire before taking over the Sri Lankan job.

"Honestly, I don't know much of the players. I haven't spoken to them either. I just had a chat with Murali on Thursday when he phoned the secretary of the board and that's the only kind of communication I have had with any player. I am certainly looking forward to work with a bunch of talented cricketers. We've got lot of tough series coming ahead and it'll be an interesting period for all of us."

"My job is not to change for the sake of changing or be too heavy handed. I am sure the things that you have in place at the moment are working well, otherwise you can't be the second best team in the world. Sri Lanka has got a good leader in Mahela, who is respected by everyone. The whole team is well respected," Bayliss said.

One of Bayliss' first tasks will be to prepare the team against a tough Test and ODI series against Australia in Australia. What do teams need to do to match the world's best team?

"I don't think it can be done overnight. It's professionalism and attitude that make Australia such a good team. It takes time to develop these qualities. I can see that Tom has worked hard to put a process in place and things are falling in place."

All Bayliss' cricketing success whether as a player or a coach has been with New South Wales, with whom he has been associated for over two decades and it'll be interesting to see how adjusts in a totally different set up.

"I made my debut for New South Wales in the 1985-1986 season and played my last one-day game in 1997. That's about the same time I got into coaching within New South Wales cricket. It's a big move to come over here getting out of my comfort zone. But as I said I am really excited about this job."

Bayliss' cricket hero is former New South Wales and Australian batsman Doug Walters and says that he loves a baked dinner. He's not much into music or movies and his motto in life is to enjoy life as much as possible.